Spider



Feb. 11, 1936. LONG 2,030,111

SPIDER Filed March 5, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l mum? S. W. LONG Feb. 11, 1936.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 s. w. LONG 2,03 0;1 11 I Feb. 11, 1936.

SPIDER Filed March 5, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 NR hkk INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 11, 1936 I I I SPIDER Spencer W. Long, Redondo Beach, Calif assignor to The National Superior 'Company, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Toledo, I

Application March 5, 1935, Serial No. 9,373

This invention: relates to spiders, and more particularly to a'spider or construction'designed' for the handling of long strings of tubing orpipe in Well drilling, cleaning or maintaining operation.

Itfis spider which is of such constructionas to enable a single individual to set or release the slips with one hand and in which construction the slip operating parts, with the exception of the oper-- ating lever therefor, are totally enclosed.

Another object of this invention'is to provide a spider in which there is provided-a means for maintaining the slips of the spider at all times yieldably urged into the position desired for the slips to occupy, that is, either in the grippingor the retrieved positions. I

Another object of this invention is to provide a spider, including a pair of opposed slips for the gripping of pipe or tubing in which the slips are so mounted as to be maintained substantially-vertical during all positions of their operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a spider for the handling of tubing or pipe, which 'spider includes opposed slips so positioned and supported that their center of mass at all times tends to rotate the slips with reference to their support into a position out of the vertical and in which construction there are provided riding surfaces against which the complementary riding surfaces of the slips engage to resist the tendencyof the slips to rotate from the vertical to thereby maintain the'slips at all times in substantially vertical position.

Other objects and advantages of thisinvention it is believed will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: II

Figure 1 is a top plan View partly in horizontal section of a spider embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation taken substantially on the line 2--2 of Figure '1. T I

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the spider embodying my invention with one of the housing plates removed. 5

' Figure 4 is a side elevation opposite to that illustrated in Figure 3. I

Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation similar in character to Figure 2 illustrating the slips as moved to the retrieved position.

Figure 6 is a figure'similar to Figure 3 illustrating the position of the operating mechanism in supporting the slips in the retrieved position."

an object of this invention to provide a v preferably of the following construction:

Figure 'T'is a diagrammatic View illustrating the modified-form of construction embodying 1 my invention wherein the slips are maintained in substantially vertical position at all times during their movement.

Figure 8is a sectional side elevation similar to Figur'e 2 of a modified form of spider embodying my invention illustrating a further modification of the means providedfor maintaining the slips at all times in substantiallyvertical posi- 10 Figure9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the'line 99 of Figure 8. Y A

i In the preferred embodiment of my invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 1

indicatesthe body of thespider in which there is mounted opposed slips 2 and 3. The body. is

formed with 'a central opening providing a slip engaging seat 4 upon which the slips are seated in the gripping position as illustrated in Figure 2.

Means'are provided for actuating the slips-2 and 3 to the gripping position as illustratedin Figure 2 from' the retrieved position as illustrated in Figure 5 and for actuating the said slips in the reverse direction, which meansare Mounted transversely of the body I are shafts 5 and 6, which shafts are rigidly mounted position. Journaled upon the shafts 5 and 6 are sleeves I from which there is formed actuating arms 8. The actuating arms 8 are pivotally connected by a slot and pin connections and. ID with each of the'slips 2- and '3. The sleeve 1 on the shaft 6 is formed with an arm ll,.-and the sleeve 1 on the shaft 5 .is provided with a similar arm l2 between which arms H and 12 a connecting link I3 is provided. The arm I2 is formed to receive and accommodate an actuating handle [4 which extends exteriorly of the body to'a position where it. may be gripped for actuation by an operator of the device. I

In order to maintain'theslipsl and 3 either in retrieved or gripping position at all times as desired, the following means are preferably provided: i I

Mounted between thepivot pin l5 connecting the arm l l and the link'l 3 and a stationary abutment l6 of the body! is a spring l1. Similarly positioned between a pivot pin 18 which connects the arms I2 and the link I 3 and a stationary abut ment IQ of the body I is a second spring 20.

The springs I1 and 20 are so positioned with relation to the centers 2| and 22 of the shafts 5 and 6 that uponrotation of the sleeve 1 uponsaid shafts 5 and 6 as is occasionedthrough the movement of the slips 2 and 3 from the retrieved position to the gripping position, or vice versa, the effective line of tension of the springs II and 20 passes over the centers 2I and 22 of said shafts 5 and 6 with the result that the springs I1 and 20 act to yieldably maintain the slips in the gripping position with the parts in the position as illustrated in Figure 3, and likewise act with the parts in the position as indicated in Figure 6.

to maintain these slips in the retrieved position as illustrated in Figure 5.

' The body I of the spider is provided with a vertical opening 23 through-which the pipe or tubing to be gripped may be passed into the position between the slips 2 and 3'and is provided with a locking or closing bolt 24 which is passed between ears 25 and 25 of the body to maintain the spider in rigid construction and to close the opening 23 when the spider is in use or when it is desired to close the opening 23. The body I of the spider is formed with lifting lugs 21 and 28 by means of which the body of the spider I may be handled in the well derrick.

In order to guide the pipe properly into the body of the spider, a beveled guide opening 20"- is provided in axial alignment with the center of the slip body. In order to close all .of the operating parts of the spider embodying my in vention, I prefer to provide closure plates 29, 30 and 3| which are releasably secured to the face of the spider by means of cap bolts 32.

The slips 2 and 3 embodied in my invention are of a construction similar to that illustrated in the patent issued to Forrest J. Young and Joseph A. Dunn for Mechanically operated slip type elevator, Patent No. 1,909,601, issued May 16, 1933, in that the slip engaging seat 4 of the body I is divided into two slip engaging seats 4 and 4 adapted to be engaged with complementary seating portions 33 and 33 of the slips 2 and 3 when the slips are in the gripping position as illustrated in Figure 2, and the body I is formed with inwardly formed recesses 34 and 35 into which said portions 33 and 33 of the slips move when the slips are moved to the retrieved position as illustrated in Figure 5. The body of the slips 2 and 3 is likewise formed with an inwardly formed portion 36 into which the projecting or hook intermediate portion 31 of the slip body projects when the slips are moved to the retrieved position.

The downwardly inclined face 38 of the hooked portion 31 of the body I is adapted to engage a complementary upwardly inclined portion 39 formed within the recess 36 of the slips 2 and 3 should the slips be moved rapidly upwardly in the bore of the body I so as to prevent the slips from being thrown'violently upwardly in the body. As the inclined surfaces 30 and 39 engage the slips are forced to move outwardly in the body I from the gripping to the retrieved position, or to a position where they will no longer be engaged with the pipe mounted in the spider. Thus any tendency of the slips to be thrown upwardly with the tubing or pipe is avoided.

In order to maintain the slips 2 and 3 substantially in vertical position at all times during their movement to and from the retrieved or gripping position, or vice versa, the slips 2 and 3 are so proportioned with relation to the body and the inclined surfaces of the body I so that a substantially point engagement is maintained at the lower points 39 of the slips 2 and 3 with the surface 40 of the slip body as the slips are moved to and from engaging position. The

engagement of this point 39 with the surface 40 opposes the tendency of the slips 2 and 3 to rotate due to the position of their center of gravity being inwardly from the position of their pivotal mounting upon the pins I0.

The length of the arms 8 are so proportioned as to position the pins I at a point where in their movement shifting the slips to and from their gripping position in connection with the engagement of the points 30 and 40 the slips will at all times be maintained substantially vertical.

In order to permit the slips to at all times seat properly upon the seat formed within the body I in engagement with the tubing or pipe irrespective of the conditions or wear of the slips, positions of the concentricity or proper diametric dimensions of the pipe or tubing being gripped or the wearoccasioned between the surface of the slips and the body, the slots 9 are formed in the ends of the arm 8 in such a manner that they extend almost horizontally in direction when the slips are in the gripping position illustrated in Figure 2 butextend upwardly toward the vertical as the slips are raised so that substantial vertical movementof the slips may be maintained.

while permitting theslips to properly seat in the bore of the body by permitting the pins I0 as carried by the slips to move inwardly along the slots 9 to accommodate for the wear or conditions as above Sat forth.

In the modified form of my invention as shown by Figure 7, similar parts are illustrated by the same numerals. This form of my invention is illustrative of the point contact that may' be maintained between the lower edge IOI of the slips 2 or 3 as they travel along the surface I02 of the body I to maintain theslips in vertical position during their movement to gripping position from retrieved position or vice versa; the movement of the slips being indicated by the dotted lines showing partially the slips in several positions.

In the modified form of my invention as illustrated in Figure 8, similar parts are likewise illustrated by the same numerals. In this modified construction links I03 are pivotally connected to the slips 2 and 3, and the links I03 extend into the body I and are connected by a pin and slot connection I04 and I to the body I so that as the slips are raised or lowered they are maintained in vertical position without depending upon relative engagement of slip and body riding surfaces; the slot I05 being provided to enable the slips to properly seat on the body seat 4 as the link I03 approaches or passes the horizontal position.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to, the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a well tube gripping device, the combination of a body having a tapered opening providing a slip-engaging seat, slips mounted within the body on the tapered seat to engage a well tube, means including a pivotedly mounted memher having an oscillating movement for actuating said slips from gripping position to a retrieved position and vice versa, means including a yieldable element secured to the body and connected with said member eccentrically of its axis of rotation, said means acting to normally urge the rotation of said member in one direction to maintain the slips in engagement with the well tube when the slips are moved to the gripping position,

aeeaiii and acting to normally urge the rotation of said member in a counter direction to hold the slips in the retrieved position when the slips are moved to saidlatter position. I I I 2. In a well tube gripping device, the combination of a body having a tapered opening providposition to a retrieved position andvice versa, 7

and, a means for yieldingly maintaining the slips against movement in its gripping and retrieved positions.

3. In a well tube gripping device, the combination of a body having a tapered opening providing a slip-engaging seat, slips mounted within the body on the tapered seat to'engage a well tube, means for actuatingthe slips from gripping position to a retrieved position and vice versa, .and a common means for yieldingly maintaining the slips against movement in its gripping and retrieved positions.

4. In a well tube gripping device, the combination of a body having ,a tapered opening providing a slip-engaging seat, slips mounted within the body on the tapered seat to engage a well tube, means for actuating the slips into and out of engagement with the tube, and yieldable means operatively associated with the slips for normally maintaining said slips in the gripping and retrieved positions upon the slips being moved to the gripping and retrieved positions respectively. I

5. In a well tube gripping device, the combination of a body having a tapered opening providing a slip-engaging seat, slips mounted within the body on the tapered seat to engage a well tube, means for actuating the slips into and out of engagement with the tube, and yieldable means operatively connected with the actuating means for normally maintaining said slips in the gripping and retrieved positions upon the slips being moved to the gripping and retrieved positions respectively;

6. In a tube gripping device, the combination of a body having upper and lower tapered openings providing slip engaging faces, slips mounted in said body, said slips having upper and lower complementary tapered portions adapted to seat on the slip-engaging faces in the body when the slips are in the gripping position, the lower ends of said slips and the intermediate portion of the wall above the lowered tapered opening in the body being similarly beveled to define riding surfaces for supporting and guiding said slips in the radial movement thereof, means to raise said slips, said means including a pivotally mounted lever on said body extending toward each of said slips, a slot and pin connection between the free end of each of said levers and the upper end of said slips, said slot and pin connection being formed to guide the movement of the upper end of the slip in relation to the movement of the lower end of the slip so as to maintain said slip substantially vertical at all times as the lower end of the slip moves upwardly and outwardly on said riding surface in the body.

7. In a tube gripping device, the combination of a body having upper and lower tapered openings providing slip-engaging faces, a slip mounted in said body, said slip having upper and lower complementary tapered portions adapted to seat on the slip-engaging faces in the body when the slip is in the gripping position, means to raise and lower said slip, said means including a lever tively connecting said lever with the upper end of said slip to guide said end during the radial movement of said slip, and means cooperating with the lower end of said slip to guide said slip in the radial movement thereof when the slip is out of operative engagement with the slip-engaging faces in said body,'said means for guiding the movement of the upper and lower ends of said slip cooperating to maintain said slip in substantially a vertical position throughout the range of said radial movement.

8. In a tube gripping device, the combination of a body having upper andlower tapered openings providing slip-engaging faces, a slip mounted pivotally supported on said body, means operain said body, said slip having upper and lower complementary tapered portions adapted to seat on the slip-engaging faces in the body when the slip is in the gripping position, means to raise and lower said slip, said means including a lever pivotally supported on said body, means operatively connecting said lever with the upperend of said slip to guide said end during the radial movement of said slip, said'lever and slip connecting means including a slot formed in one of said members and a pin carried by the other of said members and positioned in said slot, said slotinclining upwardly'and inwardly relative to a substantially horizontal plane including the pin axis and the lever pivotal axis when the slip in the gripping position, and means cooperating with the lower end of said slip to guide said slip in the radial movement thereof when theslip is out of operative engagement with the slip-engaging faces in said body, said means for guiding the movement of the upper and lower ends of said slip cooperating to maintain said slip in substantially a vertical position throughout the range of said radial movement.

9. In a tube gripping device, the combination of a body having upper and lower tapered open- .ings providing slip-engaging faces, a slip mounted in said body, said slip having upper and lower complementary tapered portions adapted to seat on the slip-engaging faces in the body when the slip is in the gripping position, means to raise and lower said slip, said means including a lever pivotally supported on said body, means operatively connecting said lever with the upper end of said slip to guide said end during the radial movement of said slip, said lever and slip connecting means including a slot formed in the lever, a pin in the slot and connected with the slip, said slot inclining upwardly and inwardly relative to a plane including the pin axis and the lever piv-' otal axis, and means cooperating with the lower end of said slip to guide said slip in the radial movement thereof when the slip is out of operative engagement with the slip-engaging faces in said body, said means for guiding the movement of the upper and lower ends of said slip cooperating to maintain said slip in substantially a vertical position throughout the range of said radial movement.

10. In a tube gripping device, the combination of a body having upper and lower tapered openings providing slip-engaging faces, a slip mounted in said body, said slip having upper and lower complementary tapered portions adapted to seat on the slip-engaging faces in the body when the slip is in the gripping position, means to raise and lower said slip, said means including a lever pivotally supported on said body, means operatively connecting said lever with the upper end of said slip to guide said end during the radial movement of said slip, and means between the upper and lower tapered openings in said body cooperating with the lower end of said slip to guide said slip in the radial movement thereof when the slip is out of operative engagement with the slip-engaging faces in said body, said means for guiding the movement of the upper and lower ends of said slip cooperating to maintain said slip in substantially a vertical position throughout the range of said radial movement.

11. In a tube gripping device, the combination of a body having upper and lower tapered openings providing slip-engaging faces, a slip mounted in said body, said slip having upper and lower complementary tapered portions adapted to seat on the slip-engaging faces in the body when the slip is in the gripping position, means to raise and lower said slip, said means including a lever pivotally. supported on said body, means operatively connecting said lever with the upper end of said slip to guide said end during the radial movement of said slip, and means including a radial guide linlrpivoted to said body and cooperating with the lower end. of said slip to guide said slip in the radial movement thereof when the slip is out of operative engagement with the slip-engaging faces in said body, said means for guiding the movement of the upper and lower ends of said slip cooperating to maintain said slip in substantially a vertical position throughout the range of said radial movement.

12. In a well tube gripping device, the combination of a. body having a slip engaging seat, a slip mounted within the body on said seat for gripplnga well tube, actuating means including an element having an oscillatory movement relative to a certain axis operatively connected with the slip for actuating the slip from gripping position to a retrieved position and vice versa, and

means operatively associated with the oscillating element acting to yieldably urge said element to rotate in one direction when the slip is in its gripping position, said means also acting to yieldably urge said element to rotate in a counter direction when the slip is in its retrieved position.

13. In a well tube gripping device, the combination of a body having a slip-engaging seat, a slip mounted within the body on said seat for gripping a well tube, said slip being retrievable to'release said tube, an element having an oscillatory movement relative to a certain axis operatively connected with the slip, means operatively associated with the oscillating element acting to yieldably urge said slip into gripping engagement with the well tube upon the slip being moved to the gripping position, and acting to yieldably maintain said slip in a retrieved position upon the slip being retrieved.

SPENCER W. LONG. 

